IRIS Photos

Campaign

Cornell is in the so-called silent phase of a $3 billion campaign. When a university embarks on a campaign, it typically assesses the feasibility of achieving a particular goal by exploring the willingness of key alumni to contribute to advance its mission. It simultaneously approaches major supporters to see if they would pledge to support particular initiatives, and their pledges and gifts form a nucleus fund. Before a public announcement of a campaign is made, therefore, the university will already be certain of a number of significant donations. For the past year the senior administrators of the university have been developing a list of potential items to include in the campaign. These wish lists have been evaluated by Alumni Affairs and Development in conjunction with the president, provost, trustees, and others. Dialogs with units have resulted in aligning the lists more closely with university priorities. The Library’s list includes renovation of Olin and Uris libraries, endowment for expanding and deepening the collections, support for digital initiatives, and funding for new staff positions. In recent months Marisue Taube and I have been reaching out to alumni with a strong interest in the Library, collections, or information technology. We are seeking to increase the number of library friends we currently have and to raise awareness of the Library’s role in supporting the academic enterprise. In the coming years, we and others will be on the road, making presentations about the Library’s endeavors and building a network of advocates and donors who can help us achieve our goals and priorities.

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